Nigel Short

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Nigel Short – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Nigel Short (born June 1, 1965) is a British chess grandmaster, former world championship challenger, coach, author, and chess promoter. Explore his life, achievements, controversies, and notable quotes.

Introduction

Nigel David Short is one of England’s most celebrated chess figures. Rising to prominence as a prodigy, he later became the first Englishman to challenge for a world championship (in 1993). Beyond competitive play, he has built a career spanning commentary, coaching, writing, and chess governance. He is known for bold opinions, sharp style, and an outspoken persona.

In this article, we’ll walk through his early years, rise in chess, key matches, later roles in chess administration, some of his controversies, and memorable quotes and lessons.

Early Life and Formation

Nigel Short was born on June 1, 1965 in Leigh, Lancashire, England.
He was the second of three sons of David and Jean Short; his father was a journalist and his mother worked as a school secretary.
He grew up in Atherton, attended St. Philip’s Primary School, and later studied at the independent Bolton School and Leigh College.

He began playing chess at about age five after watching his father teach his older brother.
He first attracted notice at age 10, when in a simultaneous exhibition he defeated Viktor Korchnoi (then among the world’s top players).

By his early teens he was winning national tournaments. He became (then) one of the youngest International Masters in history.
He left formal full-time schooling at about age 17 to devote himself to chess.

Chess Career & Achievements

Grandmaster Title & Rise

Nigel Short earned the title of Grandmaster in 1984, when he was 19.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he rose rapidly in world rankings. He was ranked No. 3 in the world by FIDE from July 1988 to July 1989.
His peak rating was 2712 (April 2004).

He won the British Chess Championship several times (1984, 1987, 1998) and the English Championship in 1991.
He also won the Commonwealth Chess Championship (2004, 2006, 2008) and the EU Individual Open Championship (2006) among other international tournaments.

One notable victory: in 1986 he won the Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee tournament.

1993 World Championship Challenge & the PCA Split

The high point of Short’s competitive career was his 1993 world championship challenge against Garry Kasparov. Short qualified through the Candidates cycle.
He and Kasparov disagreed with FIDE’s handling of the match (e.g. negotiation of venue, prizes), so they broke away and created a rival organization — the Professional Chess Association (PCA) — to stage the title match in London.
Kasparov defeated Short convincingly (+6 −1 =13), winning the match 12½ to 7½.
Because of the split, FIDE later disqualified both Kasparov and Short from its title cycle, and organized a parallel match between Karpov and Timman.

Later Competitive & Team Play

Short continued to compete in tournaments and national team events. He represented England in many Chess Olympiads and European team competitions.
He has also been active as a coach (mentoring players such as Pentala Harikrishna, Sergey Karjakin, David Howell, and Parimarjan Negi) and as a national coach (e.g. for Iran).
In more recent years he competes less frequently, but remains prominent in commentary, writing, and chess administration.

Chess Governance & Roles

In October 2018, Short was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of FIDE.
In September 2022, he became FIDE Director for Chess Development.
He also has had roles in chess organizations: e.g. he served as Secretary-General and President of the Commonwealth Chess Association.
He has written columns for publications such as The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, New in Chess, and Financial Times.

He is also an author of chess books, including Nigel Short’s Chess Skills and Winning.

He was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1999 for services to chess.

Personality, Public Voice & Controversies

Nigel Short is known for his boldness, sharp wit, and often provocative statements.

One of his more controversial remarks (2015) was that men are “naturally better players than women,” which triggered substantial backlash in the chess community.
He defended his position by referencing “difference in skills” and offered examples, though critics pointed out the problems inherent in such generalizations.

Earlier controversies include his assertion (in 2001) that he had played eight online games against Bobby Fischer—which Fischer later denied.
He has also publicly criticized various chess officials and FIDE personalities, sometimes in colorful language.
His style is polarizing: admired by many for outspokenness, criticized by others for being abrasive.

Short identifies as an atheist.
He has lived in Greece for some time, and is married to Rhea Argyro Karageorgiou, with whom he has two children.

Famous Quotes

Here are a few well-known Nigel Short quotes that capture his perspectives:

• “Chess is ruthless: you’ve got to be prepared to kill people.”

• “If your opponent offers you a draw, try to work out why he thinks he’s worse off.”

• “Modern Chess is too much concerned with things like Pawn structure. Forget it, Checkmate ends the game.”

• “It is curious that it is far easier to maintain a high ‘manners’ rating if, like Kasparov, you simply don’t speak to anyone. I still have much to learn from the great man...”

• “They could start by removing some personnel: the head-butting, move-retracting, tournament-rigging, Zurab Azmaiparashvili for instance. He is a disgrace to the organisation. But never let it be said that he is a dunderhead.”

These reflect his direct style, strategic thinking, and willingness to critique institutions.

Lessons & Legacy

1. From prodigy to challenger
   Nigel’s path shows how early promise, disciplined study, and persistence can lead to competing at the highest level.

2. Principled disagreement
   His decision in 1993 to break with FIDE and stage a rival world championship showed he was willing to act on principle (even at risk).

3. Multifaceted influence
   He did not simply remain a competitor; he expanded into coaching, writing, broadcasting, and chess governance—broadening his impact.

4. Voice and accountability
   Outspokenness can galvanize attention and provoke conversation—but it also brings scrutiny, especially on contentious issues like gender or ethics.

5. Longevity in chess beyond youth
   Even after stepping back from constant tournament play, Short keeps contributing: governance, mentoring, commentary.

6. The role of controversy in public figurehood
   His controversies illustrate how public figures must balance passion, sensitivity, reflection, and responsibility when sharing strong views.

Conclusion

Nigel Short is one of the most visible and influential figures in British and international chess: a former world title challenger, prolific writer, coach, and outspoken public commentator. His career spans competitive triumphs, controversial statements, institutional reform, and continued devotion to the growth of chess.